Modesto (Duke) Santoro: Brooklyn-Based Hoodlum

Modesto (Duke) Santoro was a trusted and loyal Brooklyn-based hoodlum for decades and a veteran soldier in the old Joseph Profaci Family.

Modesto (Duke) Santoro was born in 1912 in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. He later resided for many years at 84-2 Benson Avenue and 2402 Benson Avenue. Santoro was a trusted and loyal Brooklyn-based hoodlum for decades.

He was identified by both local and federal authorities as a veteran and (inducted) soldier in the old Joseph Profaci (later Colombo) Family of Brooklyn.

Modesto (Duke) Santoro

During the 1963 Valachi Hearings, although not overly familiar with the Brooklyn crime Families, Joe Valachi knew and named Santoro a Family soldier.

His activities included policy, shylocking, strong-arm tactics, extortion, hijacking, fencing stolen goods, and labor shakedowns.

He claimed employment for years as a partner in a Brooklyn dress factory.

Side Note: Santoro operated a private club -- the 2-3’s Social Club at 617 Lorimer Street -- a longtime mob hangout in Williamsburg and base for Duke, Franzese, and others of the Colombo mob.

His close criminal associates over the years have included:

Joseph Colombo - Former capo, later elected Family Boss. Santoro would be assigned to serve in his “personal” crew.

John (Sonny) Franzese - Legendary top Family capo, former Underboss (hidden owner at the time of the San Su San Nightclub in Mineola and many other nightclubs.)

Salvatore (Sally the Sheik) Mussachio - A top capo and former “consigliere” in whose crew Santoro served for years (partner in the Sapienza Bread Co.)

Ambrose Magliocco - Old-line capo of the Profaci Family and brother of Joe Magliocco, (the former Underboss (president of Arrow Linen Supply Co.)

Joseph (Little Joey) Brancato - Top Family member and one-time “Acting Capo” of Franzese crew.

Carmine (Tutti) Franzese - A Family soldier and nephew of Sonny.

Lazzaro (Larry) Sangiovanni - A top associate, later a possible member of this Family.

Anthony (Tony the Gawk) Augello - A Family soldier who later would commit suicide.

Anthony (Buddy Cugine) Maltese - A Family soldier.

Criminal Record

Santoro’s NYCPD criminal identification started in 1936, recording over 13 arrests for assault and robbery, malicious mischief, policy (three times), promoting gambling, usury, coercion, interstate theft, criminally receiving stolen property, extortion conspiracy, felonious assault with intent to kill, grand larceny by extortion, conspiracy (twice), kidnapping, and criminal contempt of court.

He served several related prison terms.

Fencing and Kidnapping

In 1959, he was arrested by the FBI with several other men (including Meyer Cohen and Max Silverman) for the possession with intent to “fence” a $7,000 load of pharmaceuticals that were part of a $750,000 interstate drug shipment stolen from the Charles Pfizer Co.

Santoro and company attempted to move (fence) the load through a wholesale drug firm in the Bronx run by Silverman.

In 1966, the 54-year-old Santoro, fellow Colombo hoodlum, 47-year-old Anthony Maltese, and Frank Buonagara were arrested by the Brooklyn D.A. for the kidnapping, beating, and the eventual $7,000 attempted extortion of a Brooklyn construction company owner they claimed owed them money.

They forced the man aboard a 30-foot cabin cruiser, took him out onto the sea, beat him with fists and feet, and threatened to throw him overboard and drown him ....until he submitted to their demands.

In 1971, Duke was again indicted for extortion by the FBI. This time with fellow Colombo members Carmine (Tutti) Franzese and convicted hijacker Lazzaro Sangiovanni.

They were accused of the systematic “shakedown” of the huge Mobil Oil Corp., for their requested alleged “help” in maintaining a steady flow of gasoline deliveries during a labor strike by Mobil company truck drivers who were union members of the Petroleum Employees Trade Union.

The three mafiosi were alleged to have been knowingly hired by Mobil specifically because of their underworld connections in order to basically “break” the strike. This would provide Mobil with “scab” drivers through their newly formed company “Sular Enterprises” to complete gas and oil deliveries despite the striking workers; thereby crossing picket lines and using mob strong-arm methods to intimate the union strikers.

Side note: Duke, Tutti, and company did provide over 100 drivers and another 100 drivers/helpers daily, but demanded monies far and above anything agreed upon, and started threatening the lives of Mobil executives when money wasn’t being paid fast enough.

They demanded and received over $130,000 in cash of a demanded $300,000. extortion.

The Italian American Civil Rights League

During Joe Colombo’s rallies to trumpet his newly created Italian-American Civil Rights League and many protests of various daily newspapers, including Staten Island Advance and the like, Kings County and Nassau County district attorneys, the FBI office, etc., Santoro could often be found on the picket lines carrying a placard and leading protests.

Duke Santoro was a dedicated hoodlum to his craft and liked by fellow mafiosi. By the mid-late 1970s, the Duke was slowing down.

He died in 1983 at the relatively young age of 71.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Modesto (Duke) Santoro: Brooklyn-Based Hoodlum

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Modesto (Duke) Santoro: Brooklyn-Based Hoodlum

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